What restrictions does Halacha impose upon purchasing or mending clothes during the three weeks between Shiba Asar Be’Tamuz and Tisha B’Ab, and during the nine days from Rosh Hodesh Ab until Tisha B’Ab?
It is clear that one may purchase new clothing until Rosh Hodesh Ab; the prohibition against purchasing new clothes applies only during the nine days, and not during the three weeks. During the nine days, one may not purchase new clothing even if he does not plan on wearing them until after Tisha B’Ab, and even he purchases them as a gift for somebody else.
There are, however, a number of exceptions to this prohibition. Firstly, if a certain garment is sold for a low price, but after Tisha B’Ab the price will again rise, it is permissible to purchase the garment during the nine days at the discounted price. In such a case, Halacha does not require one to incur a loss by delaying the purchase until after Tisha B’Ab. Furthermore, when necessary, one may purchase a pair of non-leather shoes for Tisha B’Ab during the nine days. If two days before Tisha B’Ab, for example, a person suddenly realizes that he has no non-leather shoes for Tisha B’Ab (when one may not wear leather shoes), he may purchase a new pair of shoes, and may wear the shoes for the first time on Tisha B’Ab. The final exception, as Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998) ruled, is that one may purchase inexpensive garments such as stockings during the nine days.
It is similarly forbidden to sew, knit or crochet new garments during the nine days, or to commission a tailor to do so. A person may not have a tailor prepare a new suit, dress or other garment for him during the nine days, and women must refrain from knitting and crocheting during this period. One may, however, mend garments that one already owns, or hire somebody to mend a garment for him. Similarly, one may bring his shoes to a shoemaker to be fixed during the nine days.
Summary: It is forbidden to purchase new clothes for oneself or for somebody else during the nine days, regardless of whether they will be worn before Tisha B’Ab. One may purchase clothes on sale during the nine days if the sale ends before Tisha B’Ab. It is permissible to purchase inexpensive clothes during this period, and to purchase shoes for Tisha B’Ab. It is forbidden to sew a new garment or to have a new garment sewn during the nine days, but garments and shoes may be fixed during the nine days.
